MrHappyRotter:I decided to be objective about this. I spent a few minutes on Google image and video search, combining various terms and phrases with Christmas parade. While I did not do an exhaustive and methodical scientific survey, I never the less have concluded that these guys' outfits and dance moves were absolutely no better and no worse than many of the cheerleader, dancer and sporty category of Christmas and Santa attire and dance I saw in videos and photos. The only difference, as far as I can tell, is that it's somehow inappropriate, disgusting and insulting when men do it.

But in all fairness, I didn't exactly compare the mens' outfits and dance routines to parade participants at Semmes, Alabama. Perhaps those folks would have been equally displeased if attractive women wore similar costumes and performed the same dancing. Some how I doubt it though. Maybe a few mothers would be upset, and of course the fathers might play along for show.

Normally, in Semmes, Alabama the women dress like this, so you can see why the vaginas were sandy that day.

trevzie:It seems to me like they just trying to make a political point. Showing your gay pride with sexually suggestive dance moves at a Christmas parade in Alabama meant for children, then when people get offended they can say, well you wouldn't be upset if we were women?

I know it's easier to side with the gays in this story, because someone will call you a bigot if you don't.

Endive Wombat:MrHappyRotter: Honestly, if I had the time, the money and the knowledge that this was going to happen, I'd have gone down there JUST to see this in person! Talk about a show, are you not entertained?

After reading the article, it's actually a little funnier. Apparently these guys were asked to participate in the parade by the organizers. It's basically the equivalent of event organizers asking a controversial or inappropriate comedian to perform at a show, then acting shocked, absolutely appalled, when said comedian does his or her usual schtick.

No doubt there is some level of responsibility on the part of the organizers. That being said, it is a freaking children's parade, personally I would dislike it if it were scantily clad women.

Time and place people.

TimeAndPlace

So, these presumably gay and black men should learn their place. Got it.

Relatively Obscure:BullBearMS: cameroncrazy1984: theflatline: I do not need to see anyone gay or straight, ass out, prancing around in public. It is much as my right to demand a sense of public decency.

No it isn't. You don't get to pick and choose which speech you find acceptable. That's not how the first amendment works.

Unless it's the Duck Dynasty guys

If it helps, I wouldn't be surprised and I wouldn't care if these guys were never invited to perform again.

It's why Southern Baptists are so numerous. It's a Get Out of Dance Lessons Free card.

In about one week the wives will say something like, "Remember that parade. You could probably dance better than those guys." And the husbands' entire excuse for never dancing will be challenged, and he figures it will be the worst, most drunken New Year's Eve ever, and some of it will take place on the dance floor.

He'll just mutter "Shoot me now." under his breath. Out loud, he'll say "But I don't have any short shorts or I hurt my back hanging lights or that hotel ballroom just burned down."

Warlordtrooper:AverageAmericanGuy: If this is what gays think of as "gay culture", perhaps I can see how some straight people might be put off by it.

This has less to do with gay culture and more about how men are subjected to double standards when it comes to gender equality.

Sure, but we men got the better end of that deal. Are these guys fighting for the right of men to prance around like little sexpots? Because 1) that's already our right and 2) no one wants to see that, bro.

"At least one woman demanded an apology, saying she had "never been so insulted" in her life."

Oh, boo-hoo, you feel insulted? Why? Because now you have to face people who don't fit into the neat little boxes in your head? Fark off.

/If you're gonna let women do that, men get to do it too//and no, I don't approve of either--dance appropriately, for fark sake--but you might as well give the little girls fap material as well as the little boys.

Mr. Right:cameroncrazy1984: Mr. Right: Bit'O'Gristle: Time and place for everything boys, and a Christmas parade is not the time to flaunt your gayness in everyones face, and you knew that.

/Nice trolling though.

Yes. And when one recalls the responses to Miley Cyrus' twerking, which is not substantively different from the kind of routine these guys did, he would be hard-pressed to verify that the complaints are necessarily gay-bashing. Is it too much to ask for decency in the public square?

I'm sorry that gays existing offends your delicate sensibilities. You can be a shut-in and avoid reality altogether.

The fact that you would make a comment like that identifies you as the type of gay rights activist who does not want tolerance of gays or equal rights for gays. You obviously believe that everyone should be gay and that gays, because they are somehow more noble than heterosexuals, deserve more rights and special rights.

notatrollorami:The video wouldn't work for me but from the pictures and description it seems you don't need to be a racist or a homophobe to think that's completely inappropriate for a Christmas parade.

The First Four Black Sabbath Albums:I don't really find these guys interesting and am not into the latest dance moves, but if the parade asked them to participate, big whoop. If my ten-year-old son saw them, he would either find it funny or gross. I might tease him about it. I would not be too afraid of his life being ruined or anything. It really is not that big of a deal. The kid sees worse on television. I think the media has a lot to do with this manufactured outrage.

But we need something to be outraged over. The hype over the Duck Dynasty guy is wearing off, and we need a new distraction.

Sexualised women at such events is seen as normal and cute, sexualised men are scary and vulgar. And they're gay so now it's super scary and disturbing for some people. And they're black. And it's in Alabama. I'm surprised someone didn't die of a heart attack.

One of those strange things, if a man and a woman are in a room and the man is the naked one, he's considered the sexual predator. If a man and a woman are in a room and the woman is the naked one, he's still the predator.

Women can wear any colour they choose without having their sexuality called into question. Men seem to have a long list of things they can't wear because it might look gay or wrong or something.

My husband watches Torchwood and likes the show but fast forwards past men kissing each other because it makes him too uncomfortable.

cameroncrazy1984:Bane of Broone: cameroncrazy1984: baconbeard: cameroncrazy1984: baconbeard: You're a bigot because you said that we should not tolerate someone who expressed an opinion that differed from yours (i.e. that Santa Clause parades should not be sexualized events).

No, we should not tolerate bigoted views. The idea that a gay dance troupe automatically sexualizes an event and a bunch of scantily-clad females don't is ridiculous.

Except that's not what he said.

Why do you care, my opinion is worthless because you don't like a certain kind of beer.

Translation: I was wrong and am unwilling to admit it.

I never said that, quit putting words in my mouth. He just appears to think that taste in beer translates to every other aspect of a person's opinions.

baconbeard:cameroncrazy1984: baconbeard: You're a bigot because you said that we should not tolerate someone who expressed an opinion that differed from yours (i.e. that Santa Clause parades should not be sexualized events).

No, we should not tolerate bigoted views. The idea that a gay dance troupe automatically sexualizes an event and a bunch of scantily-clad females don't is ridiculous.

Except that's not what he said.

Why do you care, my opinion is worthless because you don't like a certain kind of beer.

CivicMindedFive:So.... over the top LBGT type group performs in Alabama in a children's oriented Christmas parade and they are not harassed but people complain and this is a deal? Would a Christian group in a gay pride parade in San Fran be treated better?

Probably. You realize there are a LOT of self identified Christian LGBT right?

cameroncrazy1984:baconbeard: cameroncrazy1984: theflatline: hillary: Richard Roma: I don't think there should be any sexualized content in a typical Christmas day parade targeted towards a general audience.

Move to Iraq, then. Need help packing?

Preach that tolerance.

Bigotry deserves no tolerance.

Suggesting that a Christmas day parade shouldn't be sexualized is now bigotry? Wow.

Yes, yes it is, because you believe that gays participating in a parade is automatically "sexualizing" it.

No, it was the dance. They gay guys were ok, they could have been in better shape though.

And inappropriate clothing at 4:40? And at 10:05? (youngTaylor Swift is from Semmes apparently...).

And 'dancers' at 12:00.

14:30. More leg-baring, 'dancing' goodness.

Black girls with bare legs at 18:45. Geez sisters...something in the water there must sap people of their rhythm...

Dance troup full of young girls showing leg at 21:00.

Beads at 21:45.

Old guys on tractors at 22:20

(Okay, my final observation? A few groups had females in clothing that showed a lot of leg... But they weren't dressed as revealingly above the waist as the gay black dudes... no midriffs, I don't think... Also, nobody was doing anything that could possibly be called 'dancing.' I could see them doing sexy dance moves, and that being inappropriate. [ they're black guys. And gay. That's +2 on the big-schlong scale. I'm sure their hip-thrusting came along with seeing some snakey outlines].

That being said, the scantily-cladness of the young girls in this thing is kinda creepy).

MJMaloney187:Relatively Obscure: MJMaloney187: Being deliberately provocative and clutching your pearls when people are offended is the definition of disingenuous. Four black cross-dressing homosexuals strutting down Main Street in Alabama during a Christmas parade has absolutely nothing to do with equal rights and tolerance. These guys are attention whores with the brains of 12 year old girls.

When should four black cross-dressing homosexuals walk down Main Street in Alabama?

Peter von Nostrand:Frank N Stein: This type of stunt hurts the gay rights movement more than it helps

Clearly they should have been acceptable gays. Like that sassy, subservient black fellow on Designing Women

Inorite?

This seems to be a one-shot deal, and entirely based on the inattention to detail by the parade organizer. No children got hurt, though there was a little butthurt on the part of some "adults", and they'll all have something to remember for years to come.

But judging by some people's reactions, you'd think they had hired a GG Allin tribute band or something.

Relatively Obscure:MJMaloney187: Being deliberately provocative and clutching your pearls when people are offended is the definition of disingenuous. Four black cross-dressing homosexuals strutting down Main Street in Alabama during a Christmas parade has absolutely nothing to do with equal rights and tolerance. These guys are attention whores with the brains of 12 year old girls.

When should four black cross-dressing homosexuals walk down Main Street in Alabama?

MJMaloney187:Being deliberately provocative and clutching your pearls when people are offended is the definition of disingenuous. Four black cross-dressing homosexuals strutting down Main Street in Alabama during a Christmas parade has absolutely nothing to do with equal rights and tolerance. These guys are attention whores with the brains of 12 year old girls.

When should four black cross-dressing homosexuals walk down Main Street in Alabama?

AngryDragon:brax33: Frank N Stein: This type of stunt hurts the gay rights movement more than it helps

Uh... Not to nitpick here, Frank, but where exactly did they say they were campaigning for gay rights? Does everything you do as a straight man (I assume from this silly comment) reflect on heterosexual rights? Because damn, by that standard all the dead beat dads, wife beaters, child killing parents of the world have damn sure made sure your straight rights and married rights should all be taken away.

These guys are just being who they are, not trying to campaign for or get additional recognition except as anything other than their dance group. I assure you if a straight guy wanted to do the performance and dress the way they do he'd be more than welcome.

As for the "no one wants to see that" guy.... I don't want to see slutty ass cheerleaders acting like whores every time I watch football, but I don't biatch about it and start screaming about "OMG THE CHILDREN, THINK OF THE CHILDREN!"

Which also brings up my last point. All of this bullshiat about it being a "Childrens Parade" - this parade is a parade for the town, NOT a "Children's Parade" a google search shows just as many if not more adults than children at the parade over the years - and a closer look shows some pretty slutty elf outfits. On white women.

I've put up with softcore straight porn being blasted at me for 27 years through cheerleaders, tv, movies, etc because it's "normal" and "what's expected" or "what most people want/expect" and quite frankly even though I don't find these femenine guys attractive, I think it's about time it happened.#1 Because straight white males aren't the only people in the world.#2 and more importantly though, payback's a biach. Feel the burn.

It is estimated that gay people are only about 5% of the population. Sorry, I like you guys, but you're a fringe group despite what TV and Hollywood would like to suggest. What you don't like to see really is "normal" or at least what ...

All straight people like to look at scantily clad women? Because I'm straight, and oddly enough, I prefer looking at men.

I know it's hard to remember that women are people and not just things to look at sometimes.

Honestly, the outrage really boils down to one simple sentence:It's all fun and games until someone finds something 'immoral' attractive and they begin to question their sexuality.

And to be fair in Alabama (I grew up in South GA which isn't much different.) not only is the 'gay' immoral, so is the feelings whoever, men, women, unichs, get about people outside of their own race. Leave the city down here and interracial couples get it worse than gay couples sometimes.

A bowel movement is nothing to be ashamed of. It's a completely natural and necessary bodily function. And I sincerely enjoy a leisurely, healthy one. It's just me being me. And yet, there are times and places where it's more appropriate than others.

Endive Wombat:Frank N Stein: This type of stunt hurts the gay rights movement more than it helps

THIS 100%!!!!!

When you say "Gay man" it should not conjure up these dudes as a typical stereotype. The what I am calling "establishment gay-rights movement" is fighting VERY hard in shedding itself of this stereotypical "look" and these guys are not helping.

Personally I see this as a setback, and nothing more than attention whoring at its worst.

Frank N Stein:This type of stunt hurts the gay rights movement more than it helps

Uh... Not to nitpick here, Frank, but where exactly did they say they were campaigning for gay rights? Does everything you do as a straight man (I assume from this silly comment) reflect on heterosexual rights? Because damn, by that standard all the dead beat dads, wife beaters, child killing parents of the world have damn sure made sure your straight rights and married rights should all be taken away.

These guys are just being who they are, not trying to campaign for or get additional recognition except as anything other than their dance group. I assure you if a straight guy wanted to do the performance and dress the way they do he'd be more than welcome.

As for the "no one wants to see that" guy.... I don't want to see slutty ass cheerleaders acting like whores every time I watch football, but I don't biatch about it and start screaming about "OMG THE CHILDREN, THINK OF THE CHILDREN!"

Which also brings up my last point. All of this bullshiat about it being a "Childrens Parade" - this parade is a parade for the town, NOT a "Children's Parade" a google search shows just as many if not more adults than children at the parade over the years - and a closer look shows some pretty slutty elf outfits. On white women.

I've put up with softcore straight porn being blasted at me for 27 years through cheerleaders, tv, movies, etc because it's "normal" and "what's expected" or "what most people want/expect" and quite frankly even though I don't find these femenine guys attractive, I think it's about time it happened.#1 Because straight white males aren't the only people in the world.#2 and more importantly though, payback's a biach. Feel the burn.

When you say "Gay man" it should not conjure up these dudes as a typical stereotype. The what I am calling "establishment gay-rights movement" is fighting VERY hard in shedding itself of this stereotypical "look" and these guys are not helping.

Personally I see this as a setback, and nothing more than attention whoring at its worst.

Maybe they're straight.

Sure. Perhaps. Buttt...come on...

If I had to bet money, I wouldn't bet on straight, sure. I'm just saying, maybe this isn't a stand for gay rights at all. Maybe it's just dudes who like to dress up and dance.

Endive Wombat:Frank N Stein: This type of stunt hurts the gay rights movement more than it helps

THIS 100%!!!!!

When you say "Gay man" it should not conjure up these dudes as a typical stereotype. The what I am calling "establishment gay-rights movement" is fighting VERY hard in shedding itself of this stereotypical "look" and these guys are not helping.

Personally I see this as a setback, and nothing more than attention whoring at its worst.

Frank N Stein:This type of stunt hurts the gay rights movement more than it helps

THIS 100%!!!!!

When you say "Gay man" it should not conjure up these dudes as a typical stereotype. The what I am calling "establishment gay-rights movement" is fighting VERY hard in shedding itself of this stereotypical "look" and these guys are not helping.

Personally I see this as a setback, and nothing more than attention whoring at its worst.

Honestly, if I had the time, the money and the knowledge that this was going to happen, I'd have gone down there JUST to see this in person! Talk about a show, are you not entertained?

After reading the article, it's actually a little funnier. Apparently these guys were asked to participate in the parade by the organizers. It's basically the equivalent of event organizers asking a controversial or inappropriate comedian to perform at a show, then acting shocked, absolutely appalled, when said comedian does his or her usual schtick.

For those who DRTFA, these guys were Invited by the parade organizers, who apparently didn't look up what kind of dance group this was, watch any youtube videos of their performance, or anything.

AverageAmericanGuy:Warlordtrooper: AverageAmericanGuy: If this is what gays think of as "gay culture", perhaps I can see how some straight people might be put off by it.

This has less to do with gay culture and more about how men are subjected to double standards when it comes to gender equality.

Sure, but we men got the better end of that deal. Are these guys fighting for the right of men to prance around like little sexpots? Because 1) that's already our right and 2) no one wants to see that, bro.

I wager the amount of people who want to see it are equal to the amount who want to see scantily clad women.

AverageAmericanGuy:Warlordtrooper: AverageAmericanGuy: If this is what gays think of as "gay culture", perhaps I can see how some straight people might be put off by it.

This has less to do with gay culture and more about how men are subjected to double standards when it comes to gender equality.

Sure, but we men got the better end of that deal. Are these guys fighting for the right of men to prance around like little sexpots? Because 1) that's already our right and 2) no one wants to see that, bro.

True enough - but this harmed no one, and frankly, people can use to have their sensibilities offended now and then. We wouldn't want to be "politically Correct", would we? :D

I am all for you being as fabulous as you can, whenever, and wherever...that being said...

You need to know your audience, and there is a time a place for everything. Christmas parades are for two demographics, old people and children. If they are calling this event a "Children's Parade" then these guys were out of line in my opinion. Highly unacceptable.